Miguel Tejada should remain with the Oakland A’s when his contract expires after next season.

Oh, I know everyone says the team needs him, but in reality he needs the team.

Miguel has grown up with his coaches (Washington, Quade, and Macha), his manager, and his teammates. They have been his support group. Miguel is still maturing as a person. He is very emotional as a player. The A’s understand him and his needs.

Tejada needs a comfort level to be successful, he has it in Oakland. Miguel is not Jason Giambi. He is a much more needy, complicated young man. He didn’t grow up in Southern California, he doesn’t have the immediate family behind him as Jason did when he made the jump to NY. He doesn’t have the self discipline that Jason has.

The A’s know this very well and have worked with Miguel on many of his issues, that is why he is successful today.

Miguel has a chance to be one of the best shortstops of all time. It will happen if he stays with the friends and family he knows in the A’s organization.

Money should not be the issue for Miguel. If the A’s offer two million less than the Cubs, Dodgers, or Mets, this kid should stay home.

Looking at this from the best interest of Miguel Tejada, he should remain an Oakland Athletic for the next ten years, without a doubt.

I hope someone makes this clear to him and his agent and soon because he is going to be an MVP this year.

Click below and let’s talk about tonight.

Cory Lidle makes his first September start after a sizzling August. This game will be a good test for Lidle. If the A’s play Minnesota in the playoffs, game four will be right here in the Metrodome. The hankies will be out tonight, the crowd should be raucous.

Last year in game four, Lidle didn’t have a thing, he stood on the mound forever without throwing the baseball, it was painful.

Should Lidle pitch game four if it comes to that?

If he can stand up tonight against a powerful lefthanded line up with streak on the line and not succumb to the pressure, then he must be strongly considered for a postseason start. If he gives it up tonight, he goes into the bull pen in the first series, case closed.

Brad Radke, the key to Minnesota’s pitching staff, tries to break the A’s streak. Radke has an exceptional change up and has thrown well against the A’s in the past. He is still working his arm back into shape following almost three months off with a groin injury. He is vulnerable to the long ball, doesn’t walk many and is a veteran who will fire up the crowd tonight.

The Angels hope to maintain their position just waiting for the A’s to get to Anaheim Monday for a four game series. The A’s are in a position where if they win the first game of a series, the opponent who is looking for a sweep, just might be discouraged enough to lose a couple more.

The A’s are in great shape to make the playoffs as long as they are not swept in a series. Based upon the A’s starting pitching, a sweep of Oakland is unlikely.

Seattle gets a shot at Shawn Sedlacek in KC, always a welcome sight for any struggling offense. More importantly if the Mariners have any hope of staying close to the A’s and Angels, Freddy Garcia will need to have a miraculous turn around. I’m not so sure he will do it this season.

The Giants can forget about catching Arizona, and much like the Angels are with the A’s, set their sights on the seven games remaining between themselves and the Dodgers in hope of getting the NL Wild Card.

Kirk Reuter goes tonight against Miguel Batista. This could be another tough night for SF. Batista threw a great game in Pac Bell earlier in the season and obviously likes the yard.

So what about the game in Minnesota.

Lidle versus Radke. Twenty wins in a row on the line.

It has to end sometime, I say it ends tonight.

It was a helluva ride.